Device for timing timepieces



July as, 1925.

W. E. CHAMBERLAIN v DEVICE FOR TIMING TIME-PIECES 'F'i led June 50 19242 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 28,1925. 1,547,733

W. E. CHAMBERLAIN DEVICE FOR TIMING 'I'IMEPIECES Filed June 50 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I" n H. "L ii" i O Ma 1M w Wg;

so positioned upon the said board, their balance-wheels 17 are broughtinto the paths of a corresponding number of yieldingmovement-stopping-andestarting fingers 27 consisting of light,sheet-metal strips, secured by screws 18 to the flattened upper faces ofcollars 19 adjustably attached by set-screws 20 to parallel rods 2121having sliding bearing in brackets 22 mounted in the lower.

edge of the superimposed socket-mounting plates 10. A- coupling-bar 23,uniting the rods 21, provides for moving them simultaneously in bothdirections. The opposite ends of the said rods are provided with specialcollars 2d limiting their movement in one direction, while thecoupling-bar'23 limits it in the other direction. The fingers 27 collars19, rods 21 and coupling-bar 23 together constitute the multiple,movementstopping-and-starting unit of my device. Preferably, this unitis shifted to the limit of its movement .from right to left, prior toinstalling the clock-movements upon the inclined board or platform ofthe multiple, movement-mounting unit.v Prior to any test, twopreviously-regulated master movements of the same type as those to betested are mounted upon the installation board, such as the movementsspecially designated herein as 25 and 26. 7

Let it be supposed that a plurality of clock-movements have beeninstalled upon the mounting-board 5, as well as the two mastertime-pieces 25 and 26, and that all of them are, set to the same timeand that all are held at rest by the engagement of thespring-fingers of'the multiple, movement-stopplng-and startingunit with the respectivebalance-wheels of the several movements, includmg the master movements.Now a shiftlng movement of the 'stopping-and-starting unit, by using thecoupling-bar 23 asa handle, from right to left, will simultaneouslystart all of the movements, including the master movements, the wipingengagement of the respective fingers with the respective balancewheelsgiving the necessary starting ime pulse, after which the movements willrun under their own spring power, the described movement of thestopping-and-starting unit from right to left being suificient to clearthe springs 21 from the balance-wheels 16, as shown in broken lines atthe left in Fig. 2. All of the movements, having thus beensimultaneously started, are allowed to run a predetermined length oftime and are then simultaneously stopped by the operator (called thetimer), who slides the stopping-and-starting unit in the oppositedirection, i. e., from left to right, so as to re-engage the severalfingers 27 with the several balance wheels 21.v In this way, all of theclocks, including the master clocks,-are started together and all of themovements, including the master movements, are stopped together, whichhas not been possible under any prior practice. The length of timeallotted to running the movements will depend upon their character andthe degree of accuracy desired, but it is very brief, compared with thelength of time found necessary under the present practice of individualtiming. After the movements have been stopped, they are compared withthe master movements and their hair-springs taken up or let outproportionately, as they are shown to have run slower or faster than themaster movements, this regulation of the hair-springs being doneindividually, by shifting the reg: ulators, whatever their character,with which the movements are provided. I

The operation of actually regulating the movements may be done before orafter their removal from thedevice as may be found convenient and.expedient. In the device illustrated, I have shown. only two rows ofmovements, but it is apparent that the rods 21 may be lengthened orincreased in number, the capacity of any individual device dependingupon the character and size of the movements to be regulated.

I would, therefore, have'it understood that I do not limit myself tothe.device shown and described, my invention being characterized by a devicein which aplurality of similar time-pieces, of whatever character, maybe stopped and started simultaneously, with one or more mastertime-pieces. v r

I claim: V

1. A device for timing time-pieces having a multiple mounting-unit,providing for the installation upon it of a plurality of time-pieces,and having a multiple, movement-stopping-and-starting unit furnishedwith a plurality of stopping-and-starting members positionedtosimultaneously start a plurality of time-pieces installed upon thesaid mounting-unit by engaging a member of their balance mechanisms witha wiping action, whereby the several time-pieces are simultaneouslygiven a starting impulse.

2. In a device for timing time-pieces, a multipl mounting-unit having aplurality of similar groups of sockets arranged in accordance with thearrangement of the pillars of the time-pieces to be regulated,

and also having a multiple, movementstopping-and-starting unitcomprising a reciprocatable bar carrying yielding fingers positionedupon it, so as to be simultaneously engaged with and disengaged fromcorresponding moving parts of the timepieces installed upon themounting-uhit.

3. In a device for timing time-pieces, the combination with an inclinedinstallation board, ofa plurality of similar groups of sockets mountedthereupon for'the reception of the pillars of the movements to beregulated, and a multiple, movement-stopping-and-starting unitconsisting of a plurality of parallel rods coupled together at theirends and carrying a plurality of similar stopping-and-starting springspositioned to engage with moving parts of the time-movements so mountedand positioned.

WILLARD E. CHAMBERLAIN? Witnesses:

CHAS. E. CORNELL, LUGY,A. SULLIVAN.

